Politics & Fairness

I've been told that I have become increasingly political in the past few years. That may be true. However, there's a subtlety which I think that people who observe my actions and words have missed.


I've certainly shifted from being a hard-right fundamentalist straight-ticket GOP backer. I used to vote on two issues, abortion and gay rights as my litmus tests for political decision making. I was a fiscal conservative who thought I understood the basis for my interest in smaller government and localized decision-making.


But a lot has changed in my life. I've seen much of the world. I've been blessed to work with peace groups in Northern Ireland, along side great people working for justice in the inner-city, and have recently been an active member in a labor union--a group I used to despise.


The funny thing is that i no longer have a party. I'm not quick to label my disparate opinions with a moniker. Other people have been quick to call me marxist, communist, democrat, socialist, atheist. None of those things is true.


I am a fan of Milwaukee's "sewer socialist" tradition, but favor a blended republic with some socialist parts and some capitalist parts within it.


I guess if I were to distill what drives my political activism more than anything else now is a singular principle. Fairness. 


I seek balance and fairness from my elected officials. In the hyper-partisan environment in USA right now I feel that I have no home, and that the powers that be have bowed to special interests whose aims are to push people to the margins.


I want to be in the center, able to decide based on the merits of any issue. The fact that currently the GOP has taken an approach which is much more inherently unfair and punitive to the middle class and the poor, while girding the rich and powerful has pushed me toward democratic interests.


But if the GOP ever decided to read the Bible they espouse at times as the basis of their decision-making, and work toward equity and an inclusive nation with a focus on long-term growth and care for the workforce. If they put their compassionate hats on and come up with a health care system which will serve business interests while insuring every citizen, then I am going to shift toward them.


Life isn't about taking sides, in my opinion. It's about fairness. The person who says life isn't fair has given up, or has entrenched themselves in a side of a partisan battle. I prefer to remain open to fairness and compassion wherever I find it.